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The world of sports is often painted with the broad strokes of victory, records, and trophies. However, beneath the glitz and glamour lies a complex tapestry of human emotions, where pressure can be as overwhelming as it is motivating. Ashleigh Gardner‘s candid admission about the weight of expectations following her record-breaking Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction bid offers a rare glimpse into the psyche of a high-performance athlete.
Life changing moment
Gardner vividly recalls the moment her life changed during the inaugural WPL auction. She had just finished a training session in Gqeberha during the T20 World Cup and was eagerly watching the bids for her lot on a FaceTime call with her mother. The numbers climbed higher and higher, eventually hitting INR 3.2 crore.
Her brother, showing the calculator app on his phone, confirmed the staggering amount: A$558,000 for three weeks’ work. This was a far cry from her first state contract, which was worth a mere A$3,000. The realization that she had secured the joint second-highest contract in the WPL was both thrilling and surreal for Gardner.
The Importance of the WPL and its financial impact
The significant sums of money associated with the WPL mark a pivotal moment in the growth and development of women’s cricket. Gardner notes the explosion of interest and investment in the women’s game over the last decade.
“People are buying into what the women’s game is, showcasing women in sport. Hopefully cricket is leading the way: I’m sure cricket and soccer are pretty close but to be involved in the women’s game at the moment, and the evolution from 10 years ago to now, it’s been fantastic,” said Garnder as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
This investment is crucial for the sport’s future, providing female cricketers with financial security and the resources needed to focus entirely on their game. It also elevates the profile of women’s cricket, attracting more fans, sponsors, and young girls aspiring to become professional cricketers. The WPL, with its substantial contracts, is a significant step toward closing the gap between men’s and women’s cricket in terms of both recognition and remuneration.
Also WATCH: Katie Levick falls to Linsey Smith’s jaw-dropping catch in The Hundred 2024
Navigating the price tag pressure
Despite the financial windfall, Gardner admits that her status as Gujarat Giants’ highest earner brought considerable pressure. Her performance in the WPL has been solid but not extraordinary, with two half-centuries, a strike rate of 128.57 across 16 batting innings, and 17 wickets with her offbreaks. Unfortunately, her franchise finished at the bottom in both seasons.
“The ridiculous price tag that it came with certainly brought an expectation that I had to live up to. It was weird, because I had – obviously – nothing to do with the price tag that I was bought for. It was like, OK, there’s this expectation – but it’s probably a perceived pressure thing that I’m putting on myself, which I have no control over,” admitted Garner.
Gardner acknowledged that despite the life-changing financial reward from her WPL contract, she feels she hasn’t performed to her highest potential, which has been disappointing for her. However, she emphasizes that she tries not to focus on the price tag attached to her, recognizing it as just a number. Instead, Gardner believes that the most important thing is to consistently perform well and contribute to her team’s success, rather than being fixated on living up to the monetary value of her contract.
“I probably haven’t played to the best of my ability, which has been really disappointing… It was certainly life-changing, don’t get me wrong. But associating myself with that is probably something that I try to stay away from. It’s a number, at the end of the day. If I can keep performing and doing my best for the team, I think that’s more important than anything else,” added Garner.
Notably, Gardner is currently playing for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred Women’s 2024. She was their top pick at the draft earlier this year. Her contract, worth £50,000, is about one-sixth of her WPL salary but still represents a significant 60% increase from previous years, enough to attract top Australian players to the tournament.
